Recommended Diving ENT in Seattle Area?

[RobPNW]

I've recently suffered some sudden hearing loss in one of my ears. The local ENT office did a series of Dex steroid shots through my ear drum into my inner ear (not fun, don't recommend it!). Nothing changed and they basically sent me on my way to go see the hearing aid folks. I'd like to not give up so soon and get another opinion from a specialist. In addition to the hearing loss, I have the feeling like I need to equalize the ear all day long, and have absolutely relentless and loud tinnitus that's driving me mad. Can anyone recommend an ENT (preferably one that specializes in treating divers) in the Seattle area? FWIW, this did not happen on a diving trip and there was no signs of ear drum rupture. Just woke up and about 70% of my hearing was gone in that ear. Thanks for any help.

 

[Duke Dive Medicine]

I've recently suffered some sudden hearing loss in one of my ears. The local ENT office did a series of Dex steroid shots through my ear drum into my inner ear (not fun, don't recommend it!). Nothing changed and they basically sent me on my way to go see the hearing aid folks. I'd like to not give up so soon and get another opinion from a specialist. In addition to the hearing loss, I have the feeling like I need to equalize the ear all day long, and have absolutely relentless and loud tinnitus that's driving me mad. Can anyone recommend an ENT (preferably one that specializes in treating divers) in the Seattle area? FWIW, this did not happen on a diving trip and there was no signs of ear drum rupture. Just woke up and about 70% of my hearing was gone in that ear. Thanks for any help.

Rob, what were you diagnosed with?

Best regards,
DDM

 

[RobPNW]

They just called it "sudden hearing loss" and they don't know what caused it.

To clarify on my comments about equalizing, I can in fact equalize my ears. The impacted ear often feels harder to equalize but that may just be a slightly different state of the Eustachian tubes. It's more of a "feeling" that I need to equalize because of a fullness or pressure feeling, which triggers me to unconsciously move my jaw or swallow all day long. It's pretty annoying actually.

 

[RobPNW]

Besides the obsessive equalizing cycle, I find myself in, the biggest issue is the tinnitus. A lot of people live with hearing loss and get hearing aids for that. And I know that the ringing often accompanies that. But the ringing in my ear is about as loud as a normal volume conversation you would have with someone across a room. So, when someone is talking to me, about 50% of what I hear is them talking but 50% is pure ringing sound. It's not a background thing that can be ignored, not even close. And it stays at that volume constantly 24 hours a day. I would literally pay $1,000 to just make it stop for one hour so I can just quiet my mind even if only for a while.

 

[Duke Dive Medicine]

They just called it "sudden hearing loss" and they don't know what caused it.

To clarify on my comments about equalizing, I can in fact equalize my ears. The impacted ear often feels harder to equalize but that may just be a slightly different state of the Eustachian tubes. It's more of a "feeling" that I need to equalize because of a fullness or pressure feeling, which triggers me to unconsciously move my jaw or swallow all day long. It's pretty annoying actually.

Did they use the words idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss? If so, this is one of the newer indications for hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Virginia Mason might be able to help you with that as well.

Besides the obsessive equalizing cycle, I find myself in, the biggest issue is the tinnitus. A lot of people live with hearing loss and get hearing aids for that. And I know that the ringing often accompanies that. But the ringing in my ear is about as loud as a normal volume conversation you would have with someone across a room. So, when someone is talking to me, about 50% of what I hear is them talking but 50% is pure ringing sound. It's not a background thing that can be ignored, not even close. And it stays at that volume constantly 24 hours a day. I would literally pay $1,000 to just make it stop for one hour so I can just quiet my mind even if only for a while.

I know firsthand how miserable this is. Hearing aids were what finally fixed it for me.

Best regards,
DDM

 

[RobPNW]

Since the steroid shot series from the local ENT lasted over a month, the hyperbaric folks said I was not eligible for treatment with them. They said it has to be within 4 weeks of hearing loss onset.